Fruit of the Spirit: Faithfulness

I am going to start a series on my blog on the Fruit of the Spirit. I am going to take one per entry. This entry is on Faithfulness.

According to BibleGateway.com the word faithfulness is used 68 times in the NIV and 19 times in the KJV. I also decided to check the Amplified Bible and it shows the word 72 times in the Bible. Now if we just use the word “faith”, which will include faithful, faithfulness, etc., it shows 458 times in the NIV; 336 in the KJV; and 509 in the Amplified.

Faithfulness image by gospelgifs.com

Seeing some verses and this fruit of the spirit on faithfulness, it reminds me of the hymn “Great is the Faithfulness” As part of the song goes Morning by Morning New Mercies I see. God gives us mercy by us being faithful to Him.

When we serve God, we have to serve him faithfully, to show great faithfulness toward Him. God showed great faithfulness toward His people over and over throughout the Bible. We should show the same faithfulness back to Him. Just like the other fruit of the spirit areas I have talked about, they all can show love by expressing that fruit. Showing faithfulness shows an expression of love. A deep and understanding love. Great thing about our God and savior Jesus Christ is, we can had we can have a personal relationship with Him. That personal relationship helps us to remain faithful and to love.

It doesn’t matter what is going on in our life, the storm we have, the troubles are in, the drought we are having, etc. We are to remain loyal and faithful to God. God is our Father. He wants what is best for us. God sends us the Holy Spirit to watch over us. He wants what is best for us. The New Living Translation version of Proverbs 3:12 shows us For the Lord corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights. This correcting comes from the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit helps to keep ups convicted and to help us with repentance (turning away) from sins.

I like this clip art cartoon I found from GospelGifs.com. It reads Faith in God Changes Everything. That is so true. When we have faith and trust in God, things do change. We realize God wants what is best for us. He will provide for us, He will take care of us. He will show us the way. He is our compass.

I have gathered up some verse below that talk about Faithfulness. It even shows that God is faithful as well. One thing in common as well with these verses most of all of them have love in them or deal with love as well as having faithfulness.

The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, 7 maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation. (Exodus 34:6-7)

But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. (Psalm 86:15)

The LORD rewards everyone for their righteousness and faithfulness. (1 Samuel 26:23)

Your love, LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies.(Psalm 36:5)